Log carriage apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus including individual interconnected supporting units for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof. The apparatus grips and holds each log in a substantially horizontal plane, the gripping taking place along the lower portion of the log so that cutting elements, such as saws and/or chipper heads, can cut the log from above and on both sides.

Neild iliteei tates Patent 1 May 15, 1973 LOG CARRIAGE APPARATUS Peter J. Neild, North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada MacMillan Bloedel Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Filed: May 17, 1971 Appl. No.: 144,047

Related U.S. Application Data Division of Ser. No. 726,996, May 6, 1968, Pat. No. 3,603,362.

Inventor:

Assignee:

U.S. Cl ..83/730, 269/543, 144/242 R int. Cl. ..B27b 29/08 Field of Search ..143/105, 25 A, 25 R,

143/125 A, 125 R, 38 R, 1B, 52 R, 52 A, 54 A; 144/242 R; 83/730, 401, 703; 269/53, 54.1, 54.2, 54.3

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,062,249 11/1962 Gray ..l43/l B 3,603,362 9/1971 Neild ..l43/l05 R 1,041,763 10/1912 Farnum ..l43/l05 R 1,810,752 6/1931 Brophy ..143/l25 A Primary Examiner-Donald R. Schran Alt0rnc v Fetherstonhaugh & Co.

[57] ABSTRACT Apparatus including individual interconnected supporting units for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof. The apparatus grips and holds each log in a substantially horizontal plane, the gripping taking place along the lower portion of the log so that cutting elements, such as saws and/or chipper heads, can cut the log from above and on both sides.

8 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTEU 3,732,772

INVENTOR- PETER J. NEILD ATTOENIVJ LOG CARRIAGE APPARATUS This is a division of patent application Ser. No. 726,996 filed in the U.S. on May 6, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,603,362.

This invention relates to apparatus including a plurality of individual interconnected supporting units for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof so that the wood of the log can be quickly and continuously converted into boards and/or pulp wood chips.

The break-down of a log in a sawmill commences at a head saw. The standard practice is to place the log on a standard saw mill carriage which grips the log along the top and bottom surfaces thereof from a side edge. The log is shifted transversely of the carriage until its opposite edge projects from the carriage side so that when the carriage moves past the head saw, the latter cuts the log in a longitudinal direction. Because of the way the log is gripped on the carriage, it is possible to cut only one side of the log during each trip past the saw. This greatly limits the number of logs that can be handled at the head saw in a given time, and if the mill has only one head saw, this limits the speed of the entire operation of the mill. Another disadvantage is that the carriage is stationary while a log is being placed thereon and first gripped by the gripping dogs, no cutting taking place during this time. The standard carriages are reciprocated past the saw, and this usually represents a waste of time during the backstroke of the carriage, although some mills use band saws with cutting teeth on both edges thereof so that cutting can take place each time the carriage moves past the saw in either direction. The standard sawmill carriages have been used for a great many years, and the only improvements thereto have been made relative to the gripping mechanisms, speed of movement, and the controls for the different operations that take place at the carriage. The previous improvements have left untouched the basic problem resulting from the fact that you can cut from one side only of the log during each cutting operation, and that the carriage has to be stopped and the log rotated around its longitudinal axis before another side area thereof can be cut.

This log carriage apparatus is designed greatly to reduce or eliminate the above-noted problem associated with the standard saw mill carriage. This carriage apparatus can be reciprocated back and forth past the cutting elements, but it preferably is set up in an endless chain configuration which always moves in one direction. Two or more logs may be carried by this apparatus at a time, and logs can be continuously removed therefrom and placed thereon without stopping the apparatus so that when a log is being positioned on the carriage apparatus, another one thereon is being cut. Another advantage of the present apparatus is that each log is gripped from beneath so that two or more cutting elements can be working on the log at a time. For example, angularly arranged head saws can be placed at right angles to each so as to cut two slabs or boards off the log at the same time from the upper surface thereof.

'Actually, a plurality of pairs of saws can be positioned along the path of movement of the log so that two, four or more boards can be cut therefrom at substantially the same time. In addition, a pair of angularly arranged chipper heads can be placed ahead of the saws with reference to the direction of movement of the carriage apparatus so as to remove the slab material as pulp chips while two or more boards are substantially simultaneously being cut from the log. This operation leaves two flat surfaces on the log extending at right angles to each other, and following this, the log can be turned over and shifted into apparatus for repeating the same simultaneous cutting action so that the log is broken down in two stages, one immediately following the other without any waiting for loading and unloading operations, or one cutting operation delaying the other.

This apparatus includes a plurality of individual supporting units interconnected by flexible connecting means so that the units can move along a curved path. Each log-is supported by a plurality of these units, and theflexible interconnecting means permits the front end of each log being mounted on a unit immediately following a unit upon which the rear end of another log is mounted.

Apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of individual supporting units arranged longitudinally in series, flexible means interconnecting each of said units to the unit next thereto to form a chain of said units movable in unison, an upwardly-projecting chair mounted on each unit, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the units, and gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings in which,

FIG. 1 is a plan view of log carriage apparatus according to this invention,

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of this apparatus,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section taken on the line 3-3 of F IG. 2, and

FIG. 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a preferred form of log carriage apparatus in accordance with this invention. Apparatus 10 includes a plurality of interconnected supporting units 11. Each unit comprises a base 12, and these bases are flexibly interconnected in any suitable manner. The unit may be interconnected by couplings which permit them to swing relative to each other, but it is preferable to interconnect the bases by means of a flexible member 14 such as, for example, a roller chain, as shown.

Each unit base 12 has guide means in the form of a plurality of wheels 17 and 18 riding respectively on tracks 19 and 20. Lateral displacement of the base can be prevented by providing a groove 23 in each wheel 17 and shaping track 19 to fitin this groove, as shown in FIG. 3.

Each base 12 has a chair 28 mounted thereon and projecting upwardly therefrom. The chair is made up of a vertical support 30 comprising inner and outer tele-- scopic members 32 and 33. Outer member 33 is secured to and hangs downwardly from a base section 35, while inner member 32 slidably fits in the outer member and projects upwardly above said base section. A pair of spaced vertical supports 38 and 39 are mounted on and project upwardly from the upper end of inner member 32, and each of these supports is V-shaped at its upper end to form a seat 40 for receiving a log 42.

Inner member 32 is shifted up and down by a fluid cylinder 47 mounted in outer member 33 and having a piston rod 48 projecting upwardly therefrom and connected to a lower portion of said inner member 32. Chair 28 and base section 35 are shifted laterally of base 12 by a fluid cylinder 52 connected to said base and having a piston rod 53 extending laterally therefrom and connected at its outer end to outer member 33 near the upper end thereof, see FIG. 3, or if desired, directly to base section 35. A pair of tracks 57 and 58 are mounted on the top and extend transversely of each base 12, and base section 35 of chair 28 rests upon and is adapted to slide along those tracks. Track 57 is formed with a ridge 60 extending along the upper surface thereof which fits into a corresponding groove 61 formed in base 35 and extending transversely thereof. Track 58 may also be shaped to fit in a groove in the base section, although in this example, track 58 is flat and the base section rests on the upper surface thereof.

One or more pairs of gripping dogs are mounted on each chair 28. In this example, three pairs of dogs 62, 63 and 64 are mounted on the supports 38 and 39 of the chair. Dogs 62 are relatively large or long, dogs 63 are a little shorter, and dogs 64 are shorter still. These dogs are adapted to grip logs of different diameters. The pairs of dogs are mounted on supports 38 and 39 in the same manner, and only one pair will now be described in detail. Dogs 62 are pivotally mounted on pins 66 intermediate their ends, said pins being carried by supports 38 and 39, see FIG. 4. The outer end of each of these dogs is formed with an inwardly extending prong 67, while the inner end of the dog is formed with a slot 69 in which a pin 70 slidably fits, said pin being common to both dogs 62. This pin is carried by the upper end of a piston rod 72 of a fluid cylinder 73 pivotally mounted at its lower end on a pin 74 carried by inner telescopic member 32. When piston rod 72 is extended dogs 62 are swung outwardly and away from the log, and when said piston rod is retracted, the prongs 67 of the dogs are driven into the log resting on the seat 40. Dogs 63 and 64 are operated by cylinders 76 and 77, shown in FIG. 4.

Apparatus consisting ofa plurality of unit bases 12 may be reciprocated along tracks 19 and by standard mechanism for this purpose, but the tracks can be arranged in a loop so that the bases always move in the same direction. In this it is preferable to have enough bases so that two or more logs can be carried at one time. With this arrangement, one log can be positioned on some of-the chairs while another log on other chairs is being cut by the cutting elements. The height and lateral position of the log can be adjusted by extending and retracting telescopic members 32 and 33, and by shifting base sections and, consequently, the chairs laterally of base 11 by means of cylinder 52. The hydraulic or pneumatic connections for cylinders 47, 52, 73, 76 and 77 are standard and do not need any description herein.

The operation of apparatus 10 is quite simple. Log 42 is placed on the chairs ofa plurality of bases 12 so that it rests on the seats of these chairs. Either cylinder 73, 74 or 76 is energized to cause either dogs 62, 63 or 64 firmly to grip the log along the lower surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 3. The dogs used for this purpose depend on the size of the log to be gripped. The position of the log on the apparatus is adjusted by shifting the chairs laterally relative to their respective bases 12 by means of cylinders 52, and the vertical position of the log is adjusted by operating cylinders 73 to shift the bases and chairs up and down. The lateral shift of the chairs can be used to properly locate the log so that maximum recovery can be effected. These adjustments can be made with logs of any irregular shape, such as curved (sweep) logs, logs with excessive or irregular butts, or irregularly shaped logs. The chairs can be shifted relative to each other so as to straighten out the logs as much as possible. Thus, the log can be quickly and firmly gripped in the apparatus as the gripping takes place beneath, and the gripping means can be ad- 10 justed to conform to the taper and irregularities in the log.

Apparatus 10 is used to move logs past one or more cutting elements, not shown. As each log is gripped from beneath, it can be worked on simultaneously by one or more of the cutting elements, which usually are head saws and/or chipper heads.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of individual supporting units arranged longitudinally in series, flexible means interconnecting each of 'said units to the unit next thereto to form a chain of said units movable in unison, an upwardlyprojecting chair mounted on each unit, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the units, and gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath.

2. Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, guide means supporting said bases for movement longitudinally thereof, a flexible element extending longitudinally of and past said bases, means connecting each base to said element to cause the bases to move in unison, an upwardly-projecting chair mounted on each base, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the bases, and gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath.

3. Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, compris ing a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, means interconnecting the bases while permitting lateral swinging movement thereof relative to each other,

guide means supporting the bases for movement longitudinally thereof, a chair on each base, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the bases, gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath, each chair comprising a telescopic unit mounted on the base for said each chair and extensible vertically relative thereto, and includingpower means for extending and retracting each telescopic unit. I

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which each telescopic unit is mounted on a support carried by the base for said each unit and shiftable transversely of the base, and including power means for shifting said support transversely of said base.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said gripping means comprises at least one pair of opposed gripping dogs pivotally mounted on each chair for movement towards and away from each other, and including power means for shifting said dogs towards and away from each other.

6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said gripping means comprises a plurality of pairs of opposed gripping dogs pivotally mounted on each chair for movement towards and away from each other, the dogs of each pair being ofa different length than the dogs of each other pair so that the dog pairs grip logs at different levels relative to the longitudinal center of the logs, and including power means for shifting the dogs of each pair towards and away from each other.

7. Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, means interconnecting the bases while permitting lateral swinging movement thereof relative to each other, guide means supporting the bases for movement longitudinally thereof; a chair on each base and comprising inner and outer telescopic members, said outer member being connected to the base and hanging downwardly therefrom, support means mounted on the upper end of the inner member; said support means of the chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the bases, and grip means on each of said support means reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath.

8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including track means extending transversely of each of said bases, a base section mounted on each of said track means for moving therealong transversely of the base of said track means, the outer telescopic member of each chair being mounted on one of said base sections, and including power means connected to each base section to shift the latter and the chair carried thereby transversely of the base of said chair. 

1. Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of individual supporting units arranged longitudinally in series, flexible means interconnecting each of said units to the unit next thereto to form a chain of said units movable in unison, an upwardly-projecting chair mounted on each unit, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the units, and gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath.
 2. Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, guide means supporting said bases for movement longitudinally thereof, a flexible element extending longitudinally of and past said bases, means connecting each base to said element to cause the bases to move in unison, an upwardly-projecting chair mounted on each base, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the bases, and gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath.
 3. Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, means interconnecting the bases while permitting lateral swinging movement thereof relative to each other, guide means supporting the bases for movement longitudinally thereof, a chair on each base, said chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the bases, gripping means on the chairs reaching upwardly to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath, each chair comprising a telescopic unit mounted on the base for said each chair and extensible vertically relative thereto, and including power means for extending and retracting each telescopic unit.
 4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which each telescopic unit is mounted on a support carried by the base for said each unit and shiftable transversely of the base, and including power means for shifting said support transversely of said base.
 5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said gripping means comprises at least one pair of opposed gripping dogs pivotally mounted on each chair for movement towards and away from each other, and including power means for shifting said dogs towards and away from each other.
 6. Apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said gripping means comprises a plurality of pairs of opposed gripping dogs pivotally mounted on each chair for movement towards and away from each other, the dogs of each pair being of a different length than the dogs of each other pair so that the dog pairs grip logs at different levels relative to the longitudinal center of the logs, and including power means for shifting the dogs of each pair towards and away from each other.
 7. Apparatus for gripping and transporting logs past cutting elements for accurate cutting thereof, comprising a plurality of bases arranged longitudinally in series, means interconnecting the bases while permitting lateral swinging movement thereof relative to each other, guide means supporting the bases for movement longitudinally thereof; a chair on each base and comprising inner and outer telescopic members, said outer member being connected to the base and hanging downwardly therefrom, support means mounted on the upper end of the inner member; said support means of the chairs being adapted to support a log resting thereon and extending longitudinally of the bases, and grip means on each of said support means reaching upwardLy to the log and operable to grip said log from beneath.
 8. Apparatus as claimed in claim 7 including track means extending transversely of each of said bases, a base section mounted on each of said track means for moving therealong transversely of the base of said track means, the outer telescopic member of each chair being mounted on one of said base sections, and including power means connected to each base section to shift the latter and the chair carried thereby transversely of the base of said chair. 